One of the most successful drivers in Formula One history, Lewis Hamilton, is a seven-time world champion, and he isn’t shy about putting McLaren’s youngsters in their place. Before the Mexican Grand Prix, he gave a very direct warning to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, McLaren’s young drivers: If they want to outplay Max Verstappen in the F1 championship, they have to be more like him and less like themselves.
“You really have to be cut-throat. That’s what Max is,” Hamilton said. “He’s gonna take this [championship] from them if they don’t do the same.”
At the moment, Piastri is ahead of Norris by 14 points, while Verstappen is 40 points behind after a powerful streak in which he managed to win three of the last four races.
Lewis Hamilton’s Advice: Mind Over Machine
Hamilton knows better than anyone what it’s like to face Verstappen head-on. Their 2021 championship clash went down as one of the most intense and controversial battles in Formula 1 history. His advice to the McLaren duo is simple: speed alone won’t win it.
“They’ve got to dig deep to hold off someone like Max and the car that he’s in at the moment,” Hamilton said. “You have to put your blinkers up, block everything from the outside, good or bad, and just focus.”
It’s a mental game now. While McLaren’s MCL38 has been dominant in recent races, Verstappen’s opportunistic wins in Spain and Brazil show he doesn’t need the fastest car to win, just the sharpest mindset.
Teammates or Rivals?
In McLaren, emotions are rising. The crew has permitted both racers to go head-to-head. After winning the sprint in Qatar, Piastri leads Norris by some meters. That open policy could create fireworks as the season winds down.
Piastri, in just his second season, has impressed everyone. Norris, meanwhile, continues to chase that first big title moment.
Hamilton’s message hits home here: consistency and composure will decide who survives this pressure cooker. Because one small mistake could hand Verstappen exactly what he needs.
Piastri’s Surprise and Bearman’s Praise for Verstappen
Oscar Piastri’s astonishment at the change in Verstappen’s performance basically illustrates a kind of competition fluctuation that hardly happens because McLaren has been unable to keep up with Red Bull’s developments.
“He’s come to the fight quicker than I expected,” Piastri admitted, acknowledging the Dutchman’s renewed edge.
Meanwhile, young Ferrari reserve driver Ollie Bearman didn’t mince words when praising Verstappen:
“I think he’s the best, the best F1 driver we’ve ever had. He’s the reference, in my opinion, for all of us,” Bearman said. “For me, growing up and aspiring to one day be one of those guys in the top three of a championship fighting for the win, Max is the reference. He’s the guy we need to emulate or try and beat because he’s the best of what we have on the grid.”
After this, a brutal triple-header looms, beginning with the Brazilian GP before heading to Las Vegas. And while McLaren currently holds a 40-point lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, the battle between drivers is still very much alive.
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